Reform UK has suffered another blow after new polling shows it has been narrowly overtaken by the Conservatives, leaving Nigel Farage’s party in third place, reports BritPanorama.
Labour has topped the latest poll from More in Common, giving Andy Burnham’s party a three-point lead over Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, with a vote share of 26 per cent. Reform UK is now at 22 per cent, one point behind the Conservatives.
This result represents Reform’s joint-lowest showing in 18 months, attributed to ongoing scandals and allegations regarding foreign funding violations. An undercover report aired on Channel 4 has triggered a police investigation into the party’s finances, revealing discussions among senior Reform figures about concealing foreign donations.
The polling indicates that Reform has lost its earlier leads since Mr. Burnham’s appointment, and now faces additional competition on the right from Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain.
Mr. Burnham heads into a parliamentary recess with nine consecutive weeks at the top of the poll, even as Labour’s lead remains narrow. His personal approval rating has slipped slightly to +10, while Ms. Badenoch holds steady at +1.
Both Mr. Farage and Green Party leader Zack Polanski posted poor personal polling results, with their approval ratings nearly equal at -27. Following Reform in the poll are the Liberal Democrats at 11 per cent and the Greens at 8 per cent.
“Labour heads into their conference with a lead in our polling for the ninth week in a row, although that lead remains narrow,” said Luke Tryl from More in Common. “Reform has dipped to 22 per cent, their joint lowest in 18 months, while the Tories have stabilised somewhat but remain at historic lows.”
Nonetheless, the figures indicate Mr. Burnham may be experiencing some “partisan polarisation,” with 17 per cent of respondents rating his performance as ‘very bad’—a significant increase, though still lower than perceptions of Mr. Polanski and Mr. Farage.
Earlier this week, Reform faced its worst YouGov polling outcome in two years, placing it in joint second with the Conservatives. A poll released this month shows that 69 per cent of Britons view Mr. Farage unfavourably, marking the highest negative sentiment recorded in a decade.
This includes nearly 57 per cent who see him very unfavourably, while just 24 per cent hold a favourable opinion. Mr. Farage’s net favourability rating stands at -45, matching Sir Keir Starmer’s score prior to his resignation as prime minister. This marks a decline from -31 last year, reflecting a notable shift in public sentiment against him.
Such polling trends suggest shifting dynamics within the UK’s political landscape, where Reform UK’s ongoing challenges could redefine the competitive landscape heading into the next election cycle.
